The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-06
Tho Prohibition Strength.

It would DO useless to deny that the mass
meeting Of the Prohibitionists at Cooper
Union on Thursday evening was very sig
nihoant demonstration. It was. beyond
question. one Of the largest and most enthu-
stastic Of the political meetings which have
bean held there since tho opening Of the pres
emit canvass. The great hall was crowded to
its utmost capacity, and there was an over
flow meeting outside
Throughout the State, too, the Prohibition
lists have been conducting their campaign
With great vigor and after methods borrowed
from the old religious revivalists. In Steu-
ben county. moro particularly. they devised
tho novel plan Of holding tent meetings
and in attracting public attention to their
cause II has been extraordinarily successful.
During July, August and September, a tent
within which 600 people could be seated was
carried about In wagon and set up. in turn,
In tha different towns Of the county. They
proceeded on the wsll-established theory that
wherever tent Is stuck up 1t Is bound to
draw crowd; and to entertain and arouse
the people they engaged the services Of an
experienced and most indefatigable temper
anse exhorter and Of q sweet singer. making
. sort Of MOODY and SANKEY combination.
TO increase the effect Of the music an organ
wss also carried along.
The tent remained In each town for three
days, and afternoon and evening meetings
were hold In IL daily, and never once. rain or
shins, Gays the conductor Of the enterprise.
vas an audience wanting. The meetings
were always opened by an inspirlting song.
with the SANxEY Of the combination "a
tho leader. and then followed q prayer. 80
that the religious element was kept promi-
pcnt. At the Sunday meetings the songs
and addresses were altogether religious and
the moral. and not the political. side Of tenn
peranoe was presented.
Such . campaign could not fail to awaken
much interest In tho Prohibitionist cause,
snd to strengthen II, for the temperance
pasdge was always circulated. and steps were
tAken toward the organization Of clubs to
support the Prohibition party. The conduo-
tosa Of meetings very shrewdly paid even
moro attention TO the women than the men,
looking upon them correctly as their most
natural and most efficient allies.
Meanwhile the agitation Of the Sunday
queetion b landing to tho advantage Of the
pr0hibitionists. whose position on ii
= tho only logical one among those
assumed by tho opponents OF the re-
Isxatton Of the law forbidding the
ssls OF liquor on Sunday. They do not ad-
vocate tho shutting up Of tho saloons fire.
qusnted BY the majority, while they them
sslyes drink ct home. They demand that
everybody shall DO treated alike, and that no
one shall b able to get @ drink on Sunday
% any other day. II II 10 bad to drink on
Sunday. why ian't 1t bad to drink on
Npndayf It b not Sunday drinking which
makes drunkards, but steady drinking
through tho week. whether tho drinking Is
done ct homo or In saloon,
Tho Prohibition vote In this State last year
Sox Judge Of the Court Of Appeals was s6.414.
From present appearances the party viii do
better next Tuesday 90 that its vote viii be-
amore important factor In determining the
result Of the election. In this city WARD
WHN1. the Prohibition candidate for Mayor
lat year: get only $50 votes out Of Q total
az a2aSs& II the Cooper Union meeting AZ
ogds any Indication. their ticket win have
much stronger support next Tuesday.